The Hillwood Herald is the news blog of Hillwood Academic Day School. Written and published by the school’s upper grades (fifth through eighth), this blog tracks student, staff, and family happenings at the school.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Barack Obama and Preventing Bullying in schools.

Barach Obama is preventing bullying with "Bullying Preventation Summit," and he and the White House staff have been writing about their efforts on both the White House website and the President's blog.

"A federal law could help students even though states have been passing their own anti-bullying laws," said Kara Suffredini, executive director of Mass Equality, the leading LGBT advocacy organization in Massachusetts. The SSIA (Safe Schools Improvement Act), she said, goes further than most state laws in providing a specific enforcement mechanism -- the withholding of funds. "It also goes further than most states, including Massachusetts, in its reporting requirements and in prohibiting bullying based upon specific, enumerated characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender identity," she said.

Obama made about three anti-bullying bills:

1st bill:

"A federal law could help students even though states have been passing their own anti-bullying laws, said Kara Suffredini, executive director of Mass Equality, the leading LGBT advocacy organization in Massachusetts. The SSIA [Safe Schools Improvement Act], she said, goes further than most state laws in providing a specific enforcement mechanism -- the withholding of funds. It also goes further than most states, including

Massachusetts, in its reporting requirements and in prohibiting bullying based upon specific, enumerated characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender identity."

2nd bill:

"SNDA states that elementary and secondary schools must not discriminate against students on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in any program or activity receiving federal funds, or they will risk losing those funds. 'Discrimination,' under SNDA, includes harassment, bullying, intimidation, and violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity."

3rd bill:

"Schools can and must protect EVERY child -- including those confused about their sexual or gender identity. But they must never use 'bullying prevention' to engage in one-sided advocacy about homosexuality, thereby discriminating against Christian, Jewish and Muslim students who believe homosexual practice is wrong."

Barack Obama invited into the White House some parents of bullied children and the bullied children themselves.